The Subway Inn, an emblem of New York City's nightlife and history, has poured its final drink this past weekend, shuttering its doors after an impressive 87-year run. According to ABC7NY, the dive bar's neon sign, a beacon for locals and tourists alike, will go dark as it seeks a new location away from its most recent spot near the Queensboro Bridge.
From its humble beginnings in 1937, the Subway Inn has been a watering hole for a motley crowd of patrons, from city slickers to celebrities. The bar's colorful history was noted by PIX11 News, with legends such as Marilyn Monroe, Joe DiMaggio, and more recently stars like Sean Penn and Julia Roberts having reportedly graced its barstools. "Whether you were a CEO or a Porter, we all mixed together,” a long-time regular, Peter Tamburri, mused in a PIX11 News interview. Despite its legacy, the family-owned establishment has faced insurmountable economic challenges and a generational shift in social habits that have led the Salinas family to this tough decision.
Steven Salinas, whose father Marcelo worked his way up from a porter to owner of the bar since arriving in 1970, hinted at the landscape changes facing small businesses in the area. “The business owner trend is, everyone's closing in the neighborhood," he told ABC7NY. Salinas also pointed to changing tastes, suggesting that younger New Yorkers are increasingly leaning towards a healthier lifestyle that doesn't prioritize the dive bar culture of yesteryear. "But the new St Patrick's Day right now is marathon Sunday. What is the most drank beer? Michelob Ultra and N/As, nonalcoholic beer. What?" Salinas said according to ABC7NY.
Despite the closure, there's a glimmer of hope for fans of the Subway Inn. The Salinas family is exploring the possibility of reopening in Brooklyn or Queens, ideally within three months, though specifics remain uncertain. “There is still a possibility that Subway Inn will eventually find a new location,” reported PIX11 News. Lerone Wilson suggested, "That's what New York is about. We want that history. We want that integrity of someone building that business to be here that long,” according to ABC7NY.
